Senator Brian A. Joyce, a longtime supporter of MA Audubon’s Blue Hills Trailside Museum, is pleased to announce that the House and Senate Conference Committee’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget report includes language in support of the Trailside Museum, with funding possibilities up to $425,000.

The Trailside Museum offers visitors many affordable environmental, cultural, and educational programs, and has continually provided a well-maintained and operated access point to the 7,000-acre Blue Hills Reservation.

In March, Joyce was successful in obtaining a $175,000 grant for Trailside from the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Partnerships Matching Funds Program. In recent years, the Museum has been the target of budget cuts that have forced the Museum to reduce its staff, close for several days a week and limit free and reduced rate programs.

“The Trailside Museum is a wonderful educational resource, and I am hopeful that the Governor will look favorably upon this proposal,” said Senator Joyce.

The Conference Committee’s report now goes to Governor Patrick for his review.